Steering-gear.



S. C. GORDON.

STEERlNG GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED Jun! 24,1915.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

SCTG-ordon SAMUEL C. GORDON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

s'rnnnmsnEAn.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL citizen of theUnited States, Richmond, in the county of C. GORDON, a residing atHenrico and Stateof Virginia, have invented certain new steering wheelsmay be easily manipulated undgnaintained in a position in which they areBet and will be permitted to yield to ob structions in the road withoutdeflecting the vehicle from its line of travel.

A further object of'the invention is to provide means whereby thesteering mechanism ma Y be so mounted that the shocks incidental travelover rough roads will not reach the chaufl'eur and will not affect themovement of the steering wheels, and other incidental objects of theinvention will appear as the description of the same pro- (seeds.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consistsin certain novel features which will be particulurlyspoi' d out in theclaim following the detailed, ription.

In the (-'aw1ngs:Figure 1 is a side elespeciflhatlon of Letters Patent.Application flied July 24, 1915.

I Patented Dec. 19., 1916. Serial No. 41,789

the steering column and meshes with the spur wheel 14 whereby movementimparted to the steering column by the chauffeur will be transmitted tothe shaft 13 and through the connections therewith to the tumblin rod orshaft 7. To the front end of sai shaft or rod 7, I secure a lever orcrank arm 18 having its lower end pivoted to a. link 19 which isdisposed transversely of the vehicle and has its end distant from thelever 18 connected by a universal joint 20 to a tie rod 21, the ends ofsaid tie rod being connected in the usual manner with the stu axleswhich carry the steering wheels of the vehicle. 7

It will be readily noted that the shaft or rod 7 is carried by the axleso that the jars and shocks to whichthe steering wheels are subjected bytravel over a ton h road will hot release the steering wheeFs or permitthem to shift singularly and thereby deflect the vehicle from its lineof travel.

It will be noted that, when the front .wheels strike an obstruction, theupward movement of the wheels will be accommodated by the shaft or rod 9slidin in the coupling 11 so that the shock will be absorbed and thestrain and discomfort ordivation of a steering gear embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the same.

The frame of the vehicle may be of any desired form and is indicatedconventionally at 1., a dash 2 of any desired form being erectedthereon, and a vehicle spring '3 be-' ing n'ovided at the'front end ofthe same. To t e said spring 3, I secure by clips 4 a bracket -5 havingdepending lugs or ears 6 in which is journaled a tumblin rod or shaft 7.The rear end of this tu ling rod or shaft is ddnnected by a universalcoupling 8 with rod r shaft 9 extendin and way and 'havin upwardly itsrear end formed angular in; cross section, as indicated at 10. Thisangular end 10 slidably engages a coupling 11 which is connected by auniversal joint 12 to a shaft 13 journaled in a suitable bearing in thedash 2 and carrying a spur wheel 14. The steering column 15 is mountedin a snitablebearing in the dash above the shaft 13 and has its 'frontend supported b a. bracket 16 secured upon the front sideo the dash, asclearly shown. A pinion or spur wheel 17 is secured upon narilyplaced'upon the hands and wrists of the chauffeur will be overcome.

It will be oted that the steeri g wheels are moved though a rotary sha tcarried by the vehicle" Spli g and a telescopic 'oint is interposedbetween the steemnglcp umn and the said rotary shaft so that thevbrtical movement of the steering wheels willbe ac- -commodated withoutimposing any additional strain upon the vehicle 3 transmitting any shockto the steering column or the vehicle body. The movement of the springs,in arrangements eretofore e ployed, has afl'ected the movement of thesteering Lrod which reciprocated 'hol'ilontally but my device imparts arotary movement to said member'w ich is, j n'sequently, not varied byany movement 0 the springs. The-interposition of the gears described,will tend to hold the steering wheels in the position in which they maybe set so that deflection of the vehicle from its prescribedline oftravel will not occur. The device is exceedingly simplegnd they bereadily applied to any motor vehicle. L

Having thus describe the invention, what is claimed as new is In asteering mechanism, the

prihgs or I is shovtfn and of a steering column mounted in a fixedbearing on the frame, a spur wheel thereon a shaft disposed parallelwith the steering column, a spur wheel on sairl shaft meshing with thespur Wheel on the steering column,

an elongated coupling, nectlng sand eouplmg a universal oint (mp to Saulshaft, :1 rock shaft carried by the axle, a rod connected by a universaloint tn the ruck shaft and having an end of angular cross section 511(1-ably engaging said muplingn a lever on the rock shaft, and means fornunneuting saicl lever with the vehicle wheels.

In testimmiy whereof I ullix my signature.

SAMUEL (J. (lOll DUN. [11.

